September 18, 2014 could go down in history for two momentous reasons north of
Hadrian’s Wall. Not only will Scots have a chance to vote for independence,
but on the same day the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews will decide
whether to admit women members for the first time in 260 years.

The chairman of the club’s general committee has written to its 2,400 members
recommending that they change the all-male policy at the self-styled home of
golf, saying: “Now is the time to welcome female members into the club.”